Welcome to International Baccalaureate Diploma Music (2011 - 2013) Victoria Shanghai Academy - Hong Kong


Here is an OVERVIEW of the full two-year diploma Music course. Here you will find a link to the overview of the Music Course and a timeline with due dates.

Composition Music Portfolios
All students in Year 1 of the Diploma Music course will be expected to create a piece of music using music notation software programs. There are 2 compositions required for SL and 3 compositions in HL. Each composition must be a minimum length of 3 minutes.

Musical Investigation
This is a self-directed study where students are required to research two musical cultures and investigate possible musical links

Solo Performance
Students will be required to create a repertoire of pieces which show a variety of technical skills and a variety of musical styles on any one musical instrument (including voice). This portfolio is developed over a numerous amount of recitals over the two year program.
For HL a varied program of 18 - 20 minutes which highlights a varied program of musical pieces
For SL a varied program of 15 - 16 minutes which highlights a varied program of musical pieces

Set Works
There are two set works which the IB have set for the external examinations. They are Mozart's Jupiter Symphony No 41 in C Major and Aaron Copland's El Salon Mexico. Both of these works will be fully analyzed in depth. It will be necessary to understand the structural, contextual and musical features and explain these using the appropriate musical terminology.

External Examinations
The IB external examination is a 3 hour (HL) 2.5 (SL) examination which explores the aural and musical perceptions of the diploma music students.

Musical Link Investigation:
Steps for successfully completing the Musical Investigation (External Assessment)




Composition Assignment 1:
You will need to use Sibelius for this assessment.
Task:
You are required to write an arrangement for the James Bond Theme. You must choose ONE of the following ensembles below (no's 1 - 6) to create an arrangement on this theme.
(1) String Quartet
(2) String Quintet
(3) Wind Quartet
(4) Wind Quintet
(5) Brass Quartet
(6) Brass Quintet

A pdf file of the piano score for the James bond Theme is uploaded to this wiki.

This assignment will be due in February 2012

Composition Assignment 2:
You will need to use either Garageband or Acid Pro for this assessment
Task:
You are required to write a piece of music using electronic music. There must be the following compositional devices:
(a) A clear and coherent structure in your piece (ABA; ABACAD etc)
(b) Where possible manipulation of musical elements e.g. motifs, thematic development, repetition,melodic development
(c) Various combinations of textures exploring a range of textural densities, ensemble colours and antiphonal shifts
(d) Evidence of your work in progress as evidence of originality
This assignment is due in June 2012
Composition Assignment 3:
This will be given at the end of Year 1 (June 2012) in Diploma Music

Introduction to Diploma Music - Listening Examination
Dear Year 11 Music Students
Your first Diploma Listening Examination was on Friday 2 December 2011.
I am attaching the mark scheme for these exams so that you can see for yourselves the:

- information needed to answer the questions
- the detail expected in some of the answers
- the style in which answers may be written (short answer bullet points)

Please learn from your first exam and find out what things you need to improve on. Remember, this was your very first attempt at the
kind of exam questions you will have for your May 2013 final written examination. Go easy on yourselves and don't stress as we have a year
and a half to practice getting it right!

Here is the marking scheme:

Mr Karena

Solo Performance
During the 2 year Diploma Music Course, a series of 1 hour concerts have been arranged throughout the Diploma Music course.
Here are the confirmed dates for the solo performance (and Group Performance) concerts.
Recital 1 - Thursday 15 December 2011
Recital 2 - Thursday 1 March 2012
Recital 3 - Tuesday 11 June 2012
Recital 4 - Thursday 4 October 2012
Recital 5 - Thursday 13 December 2012
Students are advised to prepare at least 2 contrasting pieces for each recital so as to ensure a varied program.

If you have any further inquiries, please feel free to contact me on thomaskarena@vsa.edu.hk